Eucomis plant named ‘GSALKELE’

ABSTRACT

A  Eucomis  plant particularly distinguished by a short plant with a compact and full plant habit, short and fragrant white racemes and having foliage with lanceolate-shaped leaves with strongly undulated margins, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Eucomis vandermerwei×Eucomis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘GSALKELE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Eucomis,botanically known as Eucomis vandermerwei, and hereinafter referred toby the variety name ‘GSALKELE’. The new variety originated from a crossin Moss Landing, Calif. in May 1997 between the female Eucomis parent,an un-named Eucomis vandermerwei (unpatented) and the male Eucomishybrida parent, ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’ (patent status unknown). A singleplant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation andasexual propagation in Moss Landing, Calif.

The new plant was first asexually propagated in April 2003 in MossLanding, Calif. and has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttingsand tissue culture for nine years in Moss Landing, Calif. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations by vegetative cuttings andtissue culture.

‘GSALKELE’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than oneyear prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Moss Landing, Calif.

-   -   1. A short plant with a compact and full plant habit; and    -   2. Short and fragrant white racemes and having foliage with        lanceolate-shaped leaves with strongly undulated margins.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Eucomis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the overall plant habit, foliage, buds, and blooms (matureand immature) of the plant. The colors are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of atwo-year-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Moss Landing, Calif. in July2012.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘GSALKELE’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inMoss Landing, Calif. The plant history was taken in June 2012 ontwo-year old plants based on a 1.75 inch to 2.25 inch-diameter bulbgrown in summer greenhouse conditions in Moss Landing, Calif. Colorreferences were taken under natural light and are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2001.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asparagaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Eucomis vandermerwei×Eucomis hybrida.        -   Common name.—Pineapple Lily.        -   Denomination.—‘GSALKELE’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—An un-named Eucomis vandermerwei (unpatented).        -   Male.—Eucomis hybrida ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’ (patent status            unknown).-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Compact with leaves arranged more or less            symmetrically below the raceme; the overall effect of the            raceme is columnar with a topknot of leaves, somewhat like a            pineapple.        -   Height above the soil.—8.0 inches to 8.5 inches for a 1.75            inch to 2.25 inch bulb, depending on the greenhouse            conditions.        -   Height of top of raceme above the soil.—8.0 inches to 8.5            inches, depending on growing conditions.        -   Diameter of plant.—15.5 inches to 18.5 inches.        -   Blooming period.—Natural blooming period in the Northern            Hemisphere is May through August; as bloom development is            day-length neutral, manipulation of bulb harvest timing,            storage length, and growing environment allow for year-round            blooming.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—More or less symmetrical below the raceme;            leaves arise from a common base meristem as in a true bulb,            where some bulbs in larger sizes have multiple base            meristems; leaf margins are strongly undulated.        -   Quantity (per plant).—Varies, but 10-20 is typical of a 1.75            inch to 2.25 inch bulb grown under bright greenhouse            conditions.        -   Width.—1.64 inches to 1.92 inches.        -   Length.—7.5 inches to 10.0 inches in greenhouse conditions,            but shaded plants and larger bulbs have longer leaves.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Contiguous with lanceolate leaf.        -   Margin.—Entire and continuous with strong undulation of the            edge.        -   Venation (both surfaces).—Parallel, with a slightly            impressed central vein on upper surface.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth and slightly glossy.        -   Color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 137A (Green).-   Topknot:    -   -   Form.—15-20 miniature leafy bracts atop the raceme and            arranged in more or less a symmetrical pattern, radiating            from the apex and resembling a pineapple topknot;            approximately 1.0 inches to 1.25 inches in height and 0.45            inches to 0.62 inches in diameter.        -   Size.—2.5 inches to 2.7 inches in diameter.        -   Color.—RHS 137A (Green).-   Bulb:    -   -   Size.—1.5 inches to 3.0 inches in diameter.        -   Color.—RHS 200A to RHS 200C (Brown) for the outer leaf            scales.        -   Shape.—Non-tunicate.        -   Type.—True bulb.-   Raceme:    -   -   Height.—4.7 inches to 6.0 inches.        -   Diameter.—1.75 inches to 2.0 inches.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—56-98 days,            dependent on post-harvest storage duration and growing            conditions.        -   Number of flowers per bulb.—One or more racemes, depending            on the bulb size.        -   Lastingness of individuals flowers on the plant.—14 to 28            days.        -   Fragrance.—Present, similar to that of coconut oil.        -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: 0.34 inches to 0.51 inches.            Width: 0.22 inches to 0.34 inches. Color: RHS 155B (White).        -   Flower.—Form: Individual flowers are clustered symmetrically            around the top 33% to 50% of one to multiple racemes            protruding at foliage level even with the foliage; flowers            open from the bottom to the top of the stem Diameter:            Individual flowers are 0.78 inches to 0.94 inches when open            and clustered around the peduncle or axis. Perianth lobes:            Quantity per flower: 6 perianth lobes subtended by size.            Color: RHS 155B. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broad.            Margin: Straight, smooth, and entire. Texture (both            surfaces): Smooth.        -   Peduncle color.—RHS 138B to RHS 138D (Green).        -   Pedicel.—Length (mean): 7.03 mm. Color: RHS 155D (White).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Number of anthers: 6. Filament color: RHS 155B            (White). Filament length: 0.28 inches to 0.34 inches. Pollen            color: RHS 4A (Pale Yellow) to RHS 5B (Ivory). Pollen            amount: Slight.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: 0.35 inches to            0.44 inches. Stigma color: RHS 4C (Light Yellow) to RHS 155B            (White). Style color: RHS 158D to RHS 155D (Yellow-White)            from base to tip. Style length: 0.19 inches to 0.20 inches.            Style shape: Pyramidal cone.-   Fruit and seed set: At maturity, the plant sets a dried, papery,    flower-sized pod holding one to multiple seeds; seeds are ovoid,    hard, glossy black RHS 202A and 0.1 inches to 0.2 inches in length.-   Disease and insect resistance: Pests and diseases are few; mealybugs    can occasionally harbor deep in the bulb scales; Pythium can attack    roots.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the female parent, an un-named Eucomisvandermerwei (unpatented), in that blooms of ‘GSALKELE’ have a pleasantfragrance similar to that of coconut oil, while E. vandermerwei hasblooms with a fetid odor. Blooms of ‘GSALKELE’ are white, while bloomsof E. vandermerwei are purplish-burgundy. The leaves and raceme axis of‘GSALKELE’ are plain, while the leaves and raceme axis of E.vandermerwei are covered with many purplish-burgundy spots.

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the male parent, Eucomis hybrida ‘HawkfallHybrids’ (patent status unknown), in that blooms of ‘GSALKELE’ have apleasant fragrance similar to that of coconut oil, while E. hybrida hasblooms with a fetid odor. Bulbs of ‘GSALKELE’ produce a larger number offlowers (25%-50%) than are produced by similar sized bulbs of ‘HawkfallHybrids’. Bulbs of ‘GSALKELE’ produce a larger number of leaves(25%-50%) than are produced by similar sized bulbs of ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the commercial comparison, an un-named Eucomiscomosa (unpatented), in that ‘GSALKELE’ has white flowers, while E.comosa has creamy lavender flowers. ‘GSALKELE’ has more racemes (3 to 5times more) than E. comosa from the same sized bulb. ‘GSALKELE’ hasracemes that are half or less than the height produced by E. comosa.‘GSALKELE’ has shorter leaves than E. comosa (E. comosa has leaves thatare 1 to 4 times larger).

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the commercial comparison, an un-named Eucomisautumnalis (unpatented) in that ‘GSALKELE’ has a larger number offlowers (25% to 50% to more flowers) than E. autumnalis (when producedby similar sized bulbs). Additionally, the raceme length of ‘GSALKELE’is 25% to 50% shorter than the raceme length of E. autumnalis.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Eucomis plant as shown anddescribed herein.